LONDON – Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has been handed a two-month ban for breaching gambling regulations, the English Football Association announced on Thursday.
Tonali has been handed a 10-month ban by the Italian federation for betting on his team and will not be able to play any matches after October.
The FA said Tonali admitted 50 breaches of the rules by betting on matches between August 12 and October 12 last year. He self-reported these offenses on October 20, admitting that he had bet on four Newcastle games (three of them). He took part in the matches, but always joined the team to win.
The Independent Regulatory Commission handed Tonali, 23, a two-month suspension until the end of next season “unless there is a further breach” of gambling rules, a £20,000 fine and a warning. was punished.
“The compelling reasons for suspending the sporting sanctions include the fact that Tonali personally addressed and fully admitted to this misconduct and did so in the absence of any other evidence to support these misconduct proceedings.” the committee said.
Tonali joined Newcastle from AC Milan in July last year for a fee worth up to £60 million (about $76.3 million). However, he only made 12 appearances for the club after becoming embroiled in a wide-ranging gambling investigation that saw Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli suspended for seven months.
Tonali told prosecutors that he bet against Milan and Brescia when he was playing for them. His agent Giuseppe Riso admitted his client had a gambling problem.
Sandro Tonali of Newcastle walks on the field before the Champions League Group F soccer match between Newcastle and Dortmund at St. James Park on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 in Newcastle, England. Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali has been handed a two-month disciplinary action The Football Association announced on Thursday, May 2, 2024, that he has been suspended for breaching English football gambling rules. Tonali is already serving a 10-month ban imposed by the Italian Football Federation for gambling against his team and is currently suspended. Activities from October. Credit: AP/Scott Heppell
Tonali agreed to a plea deal with the Italian federation that includes treatment for gambling addiction.
